Respiratory actuating means for generators



Jall- 1936- G. F. ARCHER ZAWQMS RESPIRATORY ACTUATING MEANS FOR GENERATORS Filed July 20, 1935 .l v. I V

INVENTOR [74 Fflrdler ATTORNEY SPate'nted Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESPIRATORY ACTUATING MEANS FOR GENERATORS This invention relates to means for generating electrical current through the agency of chest expansion and contraction which results in filling the lungs with air and expelling the air, thus be 6 ing applicable with human beings as well as with animals.

Primarily my invention is intended for use by human beings and it employs a generator with an armature that is to be rotated in the respiratory action by means of a strap, tightened about the body, whose opposite ends are connected, through suitable rack and gear mechanism, respectively to the armature and the magnetic field.

Also suitable gear means are provided to convert the reciprocatory movements imparted to the mechanism into unidirectional motion for the rotor.

, The electrical current produced by this human dynamo may be utilized for such purposes, among others, as in energizing a light bulb, a wireless set, a therapeutic device, a medical coil, etc.

Other features and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevation of my improved device for the operation of a generator.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

0 Fig. 3 is an end view, partly, in section, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

While my invention comprehends the basically novel idea of operating a generator through the action of the respiratory organs of man and animal, the accompanying views illustrate a practical embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit its scope thereby.

In the present example, let I, 2 respectively indicate the opposite ends of a belt or strap that is to be placed about the body of the user, the belt end 2 having usual means, such as that indicated at 3, for belt tightening and slackening purposes.

The belt end I is connected, as at 4, to a plate 5 upon which is mounted a generator 6, equipped with the leads I, that may communicate with any desirable electrically excitable device.

The plate 5 is provided, on its outer surface, and at opposite sides thereof, with the guideways A, B which are for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The armature 8 is mounted to rotate in the geenrator by its shaft 9, which latter carries the pinions I0, II at its respective ends.

56 The pinion I0 is in mesh with a gear l2 that is idly mounted on a stub shaft l3 which projects from the generator casing. Said gear [2 carries a ratchet wheel 14, and a gear wheel I5 that is fixed on shaft [3 has a projecting pin H5 which carries a pawl ll that is adapted to en- 5 gage ratchet M, to drive gear [2 and thus to rotate pinion I0 and shaft 9 when gear 15 is rotated in one direction; the pawl ll sliding over the ratchet l4 when gear I5 is rotated oppositely.

A yoke l8, composed of the bail member I9 10 and rack bars 20, 2| is engaged at said bail member by the strap end 2, said rack bars 2!}, 2| being respectively engaged slidably by the guide- Ways A, B.

The pinion l l which is carried by the armature 5 shaft 9 at its opposite end is in mesh with an idler 22 that itself engages on gear 23 which is loosely mounted on a stub shaft 24, the gear 23 having a ratchet Wheel 25 fixed thereon.

Also the shaft 24 carries a gear wheel 26 which 20 is in mesh with and is operable along the rack B. Gear 26 carries a projecting pin 21 upon which is mounted a pawl 28 that engages the teeth of ratchet 25 to drive the train composed of gear 23, idler 22 and pinion H, to thus cause the ar- 25 mature to be rotated when said gear 26 turns in one direction, but said pawl 28 slipping idly over the ratchet 25 when gear 26 turns in the opposite direction.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be appar- 30 ent that a belt or band placed and drawn somewhat tightly around the body of a person, preferably around the chest, where the greatest amount of expansion occurs, and with the belt ends connected respectively to the plate 5 and yoke 18, in consequence the expanding motion of the chest in respiration will cause the gears I5 and 26 to rotate along the racks A, B, thereby operating the train of gears for the rotation of the armature and exciting the field of the gen- 40 erator for the production of a certain amount of electrical current. The elements 5 and I8 in the subsequent chest contraction are returned to their former positions by means of springs 29 whose opposite ends are connected, respectively, with plate 5, as at 30, and yoke l8, as at 3|.

In this manner a constant reciprocatory action is provided between the plate and yoke under the influence of the users natural respiration.

Also it will be observed that while the arma- 50 ture shaft pinion I0 is caused to be rotated by its individual gear train, due to the interaction of pawl I1 and ratchet M, the plate 5 and yoke I8 then moving away from one another under the chest expansion, the inward movement of said elements induced by the action of the springs will cause the armature shaft to continue to rotate in the same direction because then the interposition of idler 22 between gear 23 and pinion l I will efiect the desired conversion of motion.

Hence the armature will be rotated continuously in the same direction in both outward and inward movements of the belt carried plate and yoke.

Variations within the spirit and scope of my invention are equally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

I claim:

1. A generator having a magnetic field and an armature, a mount for said generator, guideways on said mount, separate gear trains operably engaging said armature, respective racks, slidable in said guideways, in operative engagement with said gear trains, belt means whose opposite ends respectively engage said mount and racks for their movement in one direction during respiratory induced expansion of the belt means, and spring retracting means operable during respiratory induced contraction, whereby the armature is caused to rotate within the field.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 characterized by the provision of means included in one of the gear trains to maintain unidirectional motion for said armature.

3. A respiratory actuating means for a generator comprising a mount, an electrical generator carried thereby, a system of gears connected to impart rotary motion to said generator, racks operably connected to said gears, belt means having its ends joined to said mount and racks, respectively, to impart motion to said gears during respiratory expansion, and spring means for retracting said racks during respiratory induced contraction, the arrangement being such to impart continuous unidirectional rotation to drive said generator.

' GEORGE F. ARCHER. 

